Seize her!
ITHRA
Apparently, my identity as a witch didn’t phase Althea, because in the next few minutes, she talked my ears off till I nearly regretted talking to her in the first place.
“When I didn’t get my wolf six years ago, the pack changed towards me and I think with time, they just decided to ignore my existence.”
Althea was telling me how she became the lowest ranking wolf in the bloodMoon pack. And of course, it was giving me more ammunition and reasons why this pack was the worst.
“You mean to tell me that you were reduced to the position of an omega just because you don’t have a werewolf?” I asked, the ridiculousness of it all eating at me.
Althea wiped a plate clean and dropped it by the side. “I can’t really blame them because there’s only so little I can do without my wolf. Despite having accelerated healing and claws, I can’t compete with a fully transformed wolf.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her words, “It’s not your fault that your beast refused to show up at the time it was supposed to, Althea.”
“I know that. In fact, I’ve made peace with that.” She finally said,
A wolf walks in with a tray of dirty dishes. He drops them with a clank and after giving us the dirty look, walks out of the area like some chap.
“But it’s clear your pack members are yet to make peace with it.” I said after a second, “do they always treat you like this?”
“No,” she answered so quickly, I knew she was lying. “I already told you, these days, they just ignore my presence.”
“And in the first instance? What did they do to you then?” I asked, eyebrows hewn together.
“A lot of things, but that’s in the past.” She began, “Alpha Zadok ensured to put an end to it, infact, he even asked me to leave work permanently and took me under his wings. I didn’t work for six months and nearly lost my sanity, so I came back to work here.”
“And how has that been going for you? If that’s anything to go by, the people here aren’t the friendliest.” I said, referring to odd looks and snarls they seemed to give us both.
“I know, but at least I’m around people. Staying in the alpha’s quarters was peaceful, way too peaceful and quiet for my mental health.”
I could understand what she meant, I stayed in those quarters and it was honestly a vault.
“Well, I can’t say I don’t understand you.” I remarked, meaning it with all of my heart.
For some reason, I felt like I could relate to Althea in more ways than one. While we carried out our jobs in earnest, I stole glances at her, and wondered how someone so beautiful could be treated as an outcast just because she was yet to have her wolf.
I suddenly felt the urge to protect her from her people, the ones who should be protecting her. From my interactions with her, I could tell she had a good soul, one that couldn’t be corrupted or aggrieved.
Finally, we rounded up our duties and it was time to get our paychecks. I didn’t know if I’ll be needing whatever pay they were going to be giving out, but I went regardless.
“Because of your presence here, I was able to finish up much faster than usual.” Althea yipped as we walked.
Of course we did, I still couldn’t wrap my head around giving a single person the job of washing the entire plates from a pack as huge as this.
Maybe I’ll take it up with Zadok someday.
“Why don’t you speak up to have more hands on the job? I mean, it’s hardly fair that one person cleans after the entire pack. I didn’t wash a quarter of what you took on and my hands feel like they’ve been cut off.”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
“That’s because you’re more or less human.” She said, when she saw my confused look, she continued, “I on the other hand, have unusual strength, although I don’t have my wolf, I am stronger than a normal human.”
“If you are so strong, why aren’t you getting trained with the others? Last I heard, your alpha is committed to ensuring the people are strong in both their human and wolf side.”
Or did he lie to me?
Althea struggled to speak, “It’s complicated.” She ended up saying.
Before I could say another word, someone cleared their throat. It was Morgan.
“I see you both have enough time on your hands.” She said, looking between us.
“We are done for the day,” Althea spoke for us, “we came to get our wages.”
“It’s almost time for lunch. Perhaps you should wait to clear up the place just in time for dinner.” She said, and made to leave.
Althea stops her with her words, “I’m sorry but I wouldn’t be able to work double shifts, I have other plans for the day so I would like to have my pay.” She looked at me, “I and Ithra.”
Morgan turned around with a snarl, “I think you are mistaken. That wasn’t a request, it was an order. To both of you.”
That did it for me, “And if we refuse?” I challenged, stepping up to face her.
“Then you can leave with nothing.” She said cynically, “keeping you alive is payment enough, don’t you agree?”
I didn’t care about the money, but hell will freeze over if I didn’t get my due rewards after slaving in there.
“And you,” she said to Althea, “get out of here while you can or you will be joining the next run.” She barked.
At this point, Althea was close to tears. “Let’s go.” She said to me, but I refused.
“We will not leave until you give us our wage, Morgan.” I snarled, “Or is it to say that Zadok doesn’t have money to pay his workers?”
In a second, her hands covered my throat in a firm grip. “How dare you mention his name with that cursed tongue?” She growled, “you need to be taught a lesson.”
In a split second, I watched her transform into a black wolf with clear blue eyes. By now, the kitchen was crowded and no one made a move to stop her.
Instead they threw supportive words and watched her come for me.
Desperate to live, I ran for it, encircling the kitchen, as I searched for some weapon to defend myself. Who knew that my training in the Celts Coven will come in handy one day?
“Kill her!”
I heard a few wolves growl while Morgan pursued me in her wolf form, making a mess of the place.
Finally, I got to the storage room where the utensils we recently wiped were kept and immediately, I located the knives.
I picked it up just in time for her to find me. Morgan bared her canines, and with a powerful jump, came at me with an intent to kill.
I didn’t blink, I didn’t relent, with all the power I had, I came at her with the knife and just before she could kill me, I buried the knife in my hand inside her throat.
With a guttural growl, Morgan fell to the floor, struggling to get the knife out but to no avail. Blood poured out of the wound but she wasn’t deterred, this time around, it seemed like she was more determined to kill me.
She came at me again, and this time, I buried the second one in her chest till it hit the bone. I saw the light go out from her eyes and there and then, realized that I may have killed my first wolf.
I didn’t know there was a crowd watching until I heard the powerful voice of one, pointing at me with hate in the eyes.
“Seize her!”